The Spirit of Christmas – Sunday, December 09, 1984
Christmas is a time for remembering friends, a time for kindness and generosity, but it is often a difficult season because of the challenge of brotherly love in a world filled with hardship, violence, and mistrust.
With all the advancements in science and technology, it seems at times we have made little progress in our ability to get along with each other—to love others who live next door, down the street or on foreign soil. Sometimes it seems 2,000 years have done little to change the world’s need for peace and good will. But we are willing to try harder during the Christmas season to reaffirm the principles taught by a man known as the Prince of Peace.
The true spirit of Christmas does not require wealth or power. It is best expressed by giving of ourselves through love and kindness, through unselfishness and concern for others. It is when we give of ourselves that we really give, and such an approach to life has a positive effect on the giver. As Charles Dickens said, “No one is useless in the world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.”1
Self-taught philosopher Eric Hoffer observed that our capacity for tolerance, for getting along with others, depends in large measure on our capacity for getting along with ourselves. He said, “The self-respecting individual will try to be as tolerant of his neighbor’s shortcomings as he is of his own…”2
One of the most important phases of our personal growth is to develop an understanding relationship to others. We are not really mature until we have both an ability and a willingness to see ourselves as one among others and to do unto others as we would have them do to us.
How is it with each of us? Is our heart in the right place? Does our life encompass a philosophy of service to others?
The Savior, whose birth we celebrate this season, made friendship the cornerstone of His life. As recorded in John, the Savior said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples.”3
This Christmas season, let us be disciples of Christ, let us open our hearts so the spirit of love and brotherhood may enter in. Let us once again rededicate our lives to those principles which offer all the promise of peace.
1 Charles Dickens (Source Unknown)
2 Eric Hoffer, New York Times Magazine, February 15, 1957
3 New Testament, John 13:34-35
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December 09, 1984
Broadcast Number 2,886